The future of the Urdu IAS-PCS Study Centre in Lucknow has come under a cloud after the Minority Welfare Department declined to extend the lease of the building where the institution operates. A notice has reportedly been issued asking the Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy (Akademi) to vacate the premises, raising concerns about the continuation of coaching and hostel facilities for students preparing for competitive examinations.
Centre Established to Support Competitive Exam Aspirants
The Uttar Pradesh government set up the Urdu IAS-PCS Study Centre during 2015-16 to provide coaching and residential facilities to students from minority communities aspiring to join civil services and other government services. A building belonging to the Minority Welfare Department in Para, Lucknow, was allotted to the centre on a 10-year rent-free lease.
The arrangement also included a provision allowing the lease to be extended for an additional five years. Responsibility for managing the centre was entrusted to the Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy (Akademi), while annual financial support was provided through the language department.
Investment in Infrastructure and Student Facilities
Over the years, government funds were used to develop the facility into a dedicated coaching institution. Hostel accommodation was also created for students preparing for various competitive examinations.
The annual grant, initially fixed at ₹2 crore, was later increased to ₹2.5 crore. According to officials, the allocated funds have continued to be released regularly. At present, around 90 students are enrolled at the centre and are preparing for examinations such as IAS, PCS and other competitive recruitment tests.
Urdu Academy Seeks Reconsideration
The study centre is currently headed by Dr. Unmesh Mishra, a retired Central Government officer appointed as its director. However, with the lease period ending, the Minority Welfare Department has reportedly decided not to approve an extension and has issued a notice for vacating the premises.
In response, Urdu Academy Secretary Shoukat Ali has written to the Minority Welfare Department, requesting a five-year extension in view of the students’ academic interests. The representation highlights that the institution houses books, study material and modern educational resources worth several crores of rupees. It also points out that no alternative location has been identified so far, and shifting the infrastructure could result in significant loss of public resources.
The decision has sparked concerns among students and administrators alike, as uncertainty over the centre’s future threatens to disrupt the preparation of aspirants currently enrolled there.
